Reflecting on the Morecambe Bay Primary Care Collaborative VCFSE Support Fund

By Yak Patel, Chief Executive, Lancaster District CVS & LSC VCFSE Alliance member. 

Earlier this year, the Morecambe Bay Primary Care Collaborative (MBPCC) VCFSE Support Fund provided a valuable opportunity for community organisations across North Lancashire and South Cumbria to deliver innovative projects that supported local health and wellbeing. With £13,500 available in grants of up to £2,000, the programme demonstrated how relatively small investments can generate meaningful impact when placed in the hands of trusted local organisations.

A key feature of the programme was its alignment with three important shifts identified by the NHS Neighbourhood Plan: moving from sickness to prevention, moving care closer to communities, and improving access through appropriate digital solutions. Applicants were encouraged to demonstrate how their projects contributed to one or more of these objectives.

The range of projects supported reflected both the diversity and creativity of the local VCFSE sector. Activities focused on community wellbeing, physical activity, mental health, peer support, social connection, digital inclusion and support for people living with long-term conditions. For example, the fund supported a Lancaster-based initiative providing rapid access to trauma-informed mental health support for people who might otherwise repeatedly present at GP services, alongside a Barrow pilot creating community-based menopause support to help women access information, build confidence and connect with peer support. Many projects sought to reduce isolation, improve confidence and help individuals access services and information more effectively.

Perhaps the most significant achievement of the fund was not simply the activity delivered, but the message it sent about the importance of partnership. The programme recognised that improving health outcomes is not solely the responsibility of healthcare providers. VCFSE organisations possess local knowledge, trusted relationships and the flexibility to reach people who may otherwise remain disconnected from traditional services. By supporting these organisations, the fund helped strengthen links between general practice and the VCFSE sector and demonstrated the added value that community-led approaches can bring.

The fund was administered with support from Lancaster District CVS and Cumbria CVS, in partnership with the South Cumbria VCFSE Gateway Group. The programme also benefited from the strong relationships already established through the VCFSE Alliance, helping connect partners, identify local organisations and translate the funding opportunity into practical activity on the ground. Throughout the process, it was encouraging to see the enthusiasm of community organisations responding to local needs and developing practical ideas that complemented the work of primary care.

As health and care systems continue to place greater emphasis on prevention, early intervention and community-centred approaches, there are important lessons to take from this initiative. Relatively small investments can unlock substantial social value when placed in the hands of trusted local organisations. The programme reinforced the important role that VCFSE organisations play within the wider health and care system. By reaching people early, building trusted relationships and responding flexibly to local needs, community organisations can make an important contribution to improving health and wellbeing outcomes.

The Morecambe Bay Primary Care Collaborative VCFSE Support Fund may have been a one-off programme, but it provided a strong example of how health partners and the VCFSE sector can work together to support local people and communities. More importantly, it demonstrated a model of collaboration that could become a more routine feature of how health and care services are designed and delivered in the future. As we look ahead, there is an opportunity to build on these relationships and ensure that the VCFSE sector remains at the heart of efforts to improve health and wellbeing across Lancashire and South Cumbria.